Thursday, July 04, 2013

Happy 4th of July!


It is the 4th of July, the day after Andrew's 2nd birthday and he has already been through so much. With the prayers from our friends and family and the tough little trooper he is, everything has gone amazingly well. In a short 3 months and 23 days Andrew has: flown 8800 miles to get to his new home, made one trip to Riley Children's hospital in Indianapolis, made 4 trips to Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago.

Andrew has been walking by himself with the help of a push toy in front of him. He loves to walk and be outside. He asks to go outside and walk several times a day. He can stand for about 1 minute without help. Andrew is really friendly as long as it’s not a crowd of new people. He loves his cousins and lights up when he sees other children, any age. Andrew is saying several words and picks up and retains a few new words every week. He can just about tell us what he wants. We have occupational and physical therapy coming to our house every week to help with all his learning skills.

On May 19th, Andrew was baptized into the Catholic Church. Since he loves to take a bath we decided to do submersion instead of the normal pouring water over the head. Everything went well and it was a great day to celebrate with friends and family.

After some doctor visits and X-Rays we discovered both of Andrew's hips were out of socket. He has had open reduction hip dysplasia surgery on each side to fix this. In addition he has had surgery to lessen the tightness in the neck which causes his head tilt (torticollis). Andrew is in a cast from his chest and down both legs to his toes. He will remain in it for 5 more weeks. He also has a soft collar around his neck which is removable and allows us to do neck exercises.

Andrew has been adapting well but gets frustrated because he has lost all mobile freedom. He also cannot turn over when lying down. Mama has been building her strength by holding Andrew quite a bit. We have had to be creative, and it is challenging at times, to position Andrew where he can sit up. Getting him comfortable to sleep has been the most difficult task. So far ice cream has been his favorite treat and he has been rewarded several times. Andrew does not complain about anything we have done to help him.

Andrew has a severe case of scoliosis with kyphosis. It is measured as a 100+ degree curve. Once his hip cast is removed we will have about 6 weeks to be cast free. He will then start having back cast to keep his curve from getting any worse.  He will eventually need surgery to put rods in his back to straighten it out, but he is too small for this right now.



 
 

Friday, March 22, 2013

14 WFIE News Story

Not sure who set this up but it was a very nice story. Trying to do an interview after living on an airplane/airport for 20 hours and little sleep is tough...

Adjusting to home

We think Andrew is doing better at this time change than mom and dad. Andrew slept 6 1/2 hours on the big plane ride. He then fell asleep before we took off from Chicago. We had to wake him to get off the plane after we landed in Evansville. We don't understand how he has been such a trooper. Waking up in a different place every couple days, waiting in long lines several hours at a time, going through multiple security checks, riding in planes, trains and all kinds of automobiles.

After arriving to an overwhelming welcome at the airport, it is time to settle in at home. We had dinner, which was really breakfast time to us, when we got home. After we ate we played with all kinds of new toys in the basement. He had no problem at all scooting around the basement exploring and playing. Andrew got his first look at our 3 black labs when they came to the back glass door happy to see us. Andrew wasn't quite so sure he was happy to meet the them, his eyes got as big as saucers. We left the kitchen since we didn't want to scare the little guy right away.

We gave Andrew a bath then we watched ourselves on the news then we went to bed. We are not use to the cold here, we had to turn the heat up in the middle of the night. Surprisingly Andrew slept until 3:15am then was ready to get up. Jason got up and took Andrew to the basement. They ate a snack and played until about 5:30 when Andrew was ready to sleep again. Jason rocked Andrew to sleep and everyone slept in until just after 12 noon. Andrew woke up in his smiling laughing mood and we still seemed to think he likes us.

We all ate breakfast then we played in the basement. We did try to catch up on the stack of mail and some emails. Kimberly started unpacking and dove into the 3 suitcases of dirty clothes. About 4pm Andrew crawled up on the couch and was ready for a nap. He slept for an hour then we woke him to go to the airport. We figured we hadn't seen an airport for 24 hours so we would go visit. But really one of the families that travelled with us was returning home. It was good to see they made it back ok.

The short drive also gave us a chance for Andrew to try out his car seat as they are not required in China. Mom and dad felt it was good to be out of the house already. Not sure why we felt that way but we assume because our schedule stayed so full we were always on the move. We stayed up until after 11pm and got Andrew asleep. He slept in his crib until sometime in the middle of the night he woke up crying. Kimberly got up and took care of him. Slowly some sort of routine should be setting in, it is just going to take a few days.


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Home Sweet Home!

All 3 of us are home! Everyone is doing well, just a little tired. What day is it? We had our first bath at home. Thanks Dylan for the fire truck robe!
Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome, you are all great friends and family!



Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Leaving Hong Kong!

Leaving for Hong Kong...



Andrew slept through the night.  Up at about 6 am.  We don’t have anything to do today except wait for our time to leave for the train station.  Went to breakfast and saw two of the other families from our group.  Went to the lobby so that we could say goodbye to everyone.  It was sad to be leaving them, but we are ready to go home.  They all were headed to their consulate appointments and then they are going to Shaymen island for the day.  After they left we all went to the fourth floor playground and played outside for about an hour.  Played with bubbles and got in the swing for a little while.  Came back to the room and skyped with papaw and Kortney and the kids.  While we were in the room we got a call from John and he said that everyone was in the lobby and we were going to have a group picture taken.  I am so glad we got to see everyone one last time.  After the picture they all got in the van and we walked to the 7/11 for noodles for lunch.  Had lunch in our room and Andrew finally fell asleep at about 12:30.  We have to check out of our room at 14:00, but don’t get picked up for the train until 15:15.  It is very hot and extremely humid outside today.  We will probably go back to the 4th floor playground while we wait.  We will be headed to Hong Kong and will spend the night there tonight and get on the plane back to Chicago tomorrow morning.  I am sure it seems like we have been gone for a long time, but I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone.  Everything has gone so well and we have really enjoyed the time we have had to bond with Andrew.  Looking forward to getting to share our wonderful son with all of you.  Thanks for all the prayers, they have been answered!  Please pray now for a good plane ride for all of us.  We will see you soon!!

Love,
Kimberly, Jason, and Andrew




Everything is smaller in China...

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Day at the Zoo in Guangzhou




Andrew fell asleep about 20:40. Andrew woke up at either 3:30 or 4:30. Jason put him in bed and he stayed there until he woke up at 6am. He wanted his “bottle” which is a little milk jug drink with a straw. Andrew went back to sleep and slept until 7:30. We went to breakfast and Andrew seemed to be in a little bit better mood. He ate well again. We met the other 3 families at 9:00 and headed to the zoo.
It was 77°F today and partly sunny, it feels warmer with carrying a backpack and sometimes a 20-month old around.  Andrew got to feed the ducks/fish his goldfish crackers. They have a dog park where you can go in and pet the dogs. It’s not popular for people to own dogs as pets here. We saw a class of school kids with drawing pads sketching the giraffes. We saw the panda but it’s so warm it wasn’t moving much.

Andrew fell asleep right before we got back to the hotel. He slept for almost 2 hours. After Andrew woke up, we walked to the shopping mall next to the hotel and bought so more gifts. After shopping we went to the outdoor playground they have on the 4th floor at the hotel. Andrew got to crawl around and play in the playhouse. When other young kids came out he lit up and really wanted to go play with them. But the other kids weren’t sure, but they were a little older also.

We went back to the room and Andrew ate almost a whole bowl of noodles again and ate some of a plum. We only have 2 more days left here. We are leaving at 7:45am to go to the US Consulate. We will start Andrew’s VISA process so he can come home with us!



Hot Panda



























Feeding the ducks and fish goldfish crackers





Saturday, March 16, 2013

First full day in Guangzhou



The alarm got us up at 6:30am. Kimberly got ready and Andrew figured out the new TV remote. He didn’t seem to notice that we changed hotels while he was asleep. We went to the breakfast buffet, it is still really good with American and Chinese selections. They have high chairs so we got to have our first at that. He actually did really well than having him sit on our lap. Andrew ate pretty decent. On the way out we ran into the other 3 families in our group and got to meet the 3 new boys.

We all met in the lobby and loaded the van up for the medical exams. They had to draw blood on the other children but not Andrew since he is under 2, our hearts were breaking for the parents. Andrew did not seem very content in the medical office. There were a lot of people there but since we only had 4 families in our group we got through it in about an hour. There was a group after us with 17 families, I think they are going to be there for a long time.

Jason sat Andrew down for his photo and he was not happy. It took a squeaky toy and 3 photos before they got one that was acceptable. Next it was our turn for the medical exam and the nurses took Andrew. They weighed him and measured him he did not like that too much but a squeaky toy calmed him a little. We then went into the Doctor’s exam room and he checked everything out. I’m not sure how much the Doctor heard on his stethoscope over his crying. We got through that and then we went to the last room. There was a toy fish and ball that Andrew repeatedly through on the floor while we waited for the Ear/Nose/Throat specialist. We assume everything was ok as we didn’t get any paperwork.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at a supermarket. We got milk, diapers and other supplies (chips and coke) for the rest of the week. We went to McDonalds, which is right next to the hotel, for lunch. Andrew had his first french fry with us. He seemed to like them, it was also good to get a somewhat American meal again. We then walked around the hotel grounds and Andrew fell asleep. We found some cabanas out by the pool and we laid Andrew on the couch. Nothing better than an outdoor nap! The weather here is great, almost 80, nice breeze, similar to Florida. They even have palm trees. Jason went to a meeting to fill out VISA paperwork and go over the plan for the rest of the week.

After our meeting Andrew was up and the guide walked all of us down to a park not too far away. It was very nice with a large lake in the center. They even have amusement park rides, similar to Holiday World, but for small children. We watched people play badminton, hacky sack and table tennis. We spent about 3 hours at the park, it was so great to be outside and not in a hotel room. We still get stop and stares but not as much. We don’t know if it is Andrew specifically or the whole concept, because I would think this town would be use to seeing Americans with Chinese children.

Andrew just ate almost a whole large bowl of chicken noodles, those are his favorite that we know of. We are getting ready to walk down to the 7-11 to get some more bowls of noodles. I think everyone is expected to walk down and check out the 7-11. Of course you also have to walk through the “propositions” for a massage out on the street on the way down there.





Friday, March 15, 2013

Made it to Guangzhou!



3/15/13
Andrew slept for 9 hours straight!  Skyped with Kristan and her kids this morning.  Jason and Andrew skyped with Grandma and Grandpa Marsh while Kimberly took a shower.  Andrew did not do quite as well at the breakfast buffet today, but still ate pretty well.

We found a window on the fifth floor where we could watch the traffic.  Sat up there for about a half hour or so.  Went back to the room and daddy and Andrew took a nap and mommy read a book.  Jason went back to the coffee shop with Eric for lunch just got it to go.  Mommy and Andrew played in the room while daddy was gone.  Andrew ate some bread and the tomato soup that Jason got with his lunch. 

We met Vicki in the lobby at 3:00 and got checked out of the hotel and then headed to the airport.  Got to the airport and Vicki helped us get checked in.  We were there two hours before our flight.  We hung out with the other couple that adopted from Guiyang also.  It was a long two hours, but finally time to board the plane.  We had to take a bus from the airport to the plane.  It was packed!!  Andrew had a meltdown when we were waiting outside to get onto the plane.  It was cold and we tried to put a blanket around him and he hated that!

He calmed down once we got on the plane.  The flight went well until we started our decent.  I think the air pressure was really hurting his ears and we could not do anything to calm him down.  He cried really hard for 15 to 20 minutes.  Felt so bad for him, but he would not drink or take the sucker I had for him.  It was really stressful for all of us.  Once we landed he was fine again. 

Got all of our bags and headed out to find our guide.  His name is John and he seems really nice.  He got us in the van and we headed to our hotel.  It is about 40 minutes away from the airport and Andrew fell asleep on the drive.  It might be an early morning for us.

We have to meet in the lobby tomorrow at 9:00 and then will head to Andrew’s medical exam.  We are looking forward to being back with the other three families and meeting all their new children!